BWW INTERVIEWS: Two 'Spectacular' Hometown Rockettes - Joanna Richardson and Margaret Shepherd

Many a young performer dreams of making their mark on the stage, and sometimes one is inspired to reach for their dreams in truly magical ways.  That is exactly what happened to a young Joanna Richardson and Margaret Shepherd in 2001 when the Radio City Christmas Spectacular made its debut at Atlanta's Fabulous Fox Theatre.  Both young women, who did not know each other then, but who had each been studying dance for a number of years in their own corner of Metro Atlanta, sat in the darkened theatre amazed at the spectacle before them. Beautiful women were dancing on stage in amazing costumes with vibrant sets and festive music and both young girls decided, then and there, that they each wanted to be up on that stage with that historic and much beloved troupe.  Today, these two young women have achieved their dreams and will be performing for their friends, family, and  Atlanta audiences in the very theatre where they were inspired to take that leap (or rather kick) 8 years ago when The Radio City Christmas Spectacular returns to the Fox November 19 - December 6^th. I had the chance to speak with Joanna and Margaret about their unique (yet similar) journeys to this most famous of kick lines.

I understand you both have an interesting story about how you decided to become Rockettes? Can we start by having you both tell us a little about that?

Joanna Richardson: I am from Atlanta so I grew up watching The Rockettes perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on television and going to see countless shows at the Fox Theatre with my family. When they came through in 2001, I went with my family and my dance studio and before the first number was even over I knew that I wanted to be up there on that stage. So, a few years later, here I am and it is absolutely wonderful.

Margaret Shepherd: I grew up in Atlanta as well and I used to dance with the Atlanta Ballet Company and I grew up through the Atlanta Ballet school.  Similar to Joanna, I saw the show in 2001 and I was so inspired, but I had strictly ballet training. So a few years later I moved to New York and really studied up on Tap and Jazz so I could audition. It took a couple times but I finally made it and I was so thrilled. And, after performing with the Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker at the Fox Theatre for about 10 years as a child it is so fun to go back to the Fox Theatre and perform with the Radio City Rockettes.

With this tour will you make it to a number of cities or do you primarily stay in one place?

J: This year we will be in Atlanta for severAl Weeks and then our cast goes to Dallas, Texas for four weeks. Usually with the show we are doing, Dreams, it usually goes to two cities each year. In addition to Radio City where the original Spectacular performances take place, there is also an arena tour and they go to 30 different cities with one or two night performances in each, but our cast gets to sit down in one place.

Is the show that you will be performing at the Fox new this year?

J:  Each season we find new ways to reimagine and recreate the Christmas spectacular. This season we have a lot of wonderful numbers, some new things, as well as some things that have actually been in the spectacular since 1933, such as the Parade of the Wooden Soldiers which is an audience favorite. We also have a live nativity that closes the show and it is just such a beautiful processional and we actually have live animals in that number as well.

Being a Rockette has to be quite an honor being such an iconic group known around the world. How does it feel being part of such a well known and much-loved institution?

M: It is like being part of a sisterhood. I got to teach a lot in New York City and I would run into Rockettes that had performed at the Music Hall in the 40s, 50s and 60s and there is just a bond that goes across so many different generations. And when you meet a woman that performed at Radio City in the past there is just this special connection.

J: I agree with Margaret. When you are up on stage it is really about the group and not one individual up there doing her choreography. We are all there and we are working as a team and we know that we are up on that stage with 17 other amazing women and are all there supporting each other. That is really an incredible feeling. Also, knowing that we are part of such an amazing legacy that has been around for so many years really is special.

You both mentioned that dancing has been a large part of your lives?  What is different about dancing as a Rockette compared to what you have done in the past?

J: We do have certain qualifications we have to meet. First is the height requirement: we all have to measure between 5' 6" and 5' 10 ½".  On top of that we have to be proficient in ballet, tap and jazz and of course be able to do those world-famous eye-high kicks. The Rockette style is a precision dance technique and you have to be able to show that you can pick up not only on the choreography but also the style very quickly. This is because the rehearsal process is only about 3 - 4 weeks and within that time we will rehearse for 6 hours a day for 6 days a week. That may seem like a lot of time but when you are putting on a show of this magnitude it really is not a lot of rehearsal time for us to get it down and get ready for performances. You have to be able to pick up very quickly

M : I just want to add that in comparison to other places I have been, being a Radio City Rockette has a high physical standard and we are treated like athletes and are expected to come to rehearsals in excellent cardio-vascular health as well as have our jazz, ballet and tap technique very high so we can get through the rehearsal process.

As an observer watching the Thanksgiving parade and seeing the show live in the past one thing that stands out for me are your smiles and facial expressions. Are those part of your training as well?

J: It is interesting because I have had dance teachers that have said that the muscles in your face are muscles and you do have to work them as well. It is also about making those steps look effortless, regardless of whether the choreography is difficult or not. Having that pleasant expression is part of the package. However, we do enjoy what we do so much that once we are up on that stage and the lights are on and we have the costumes on and the audience is in front of us it really is natural. The smiles are very genuine and they come across very easily.

M: That is very true.

So when the show plays in Atlanta, you will be performing for a hometown audience. Is that exciting?

M: Having family and friends who live in Atlanta able to come to the Fox and see us perform it is very thrilling. I remember, for me personally, when I grew up dancing with the ballet there I used to play hide and seek when I was 10 years old at the Fox Theatre. So, for me it is so much fun to be back there performing as a Rockette after so many years. That theatre has so much history and to go back there it is so exciting.

J: I have to agree. I mentioned before that I grew up in Atlanta and saw countless shows performed at the Fox and it is so exciting to now be on the other side and to look into the audience and see family and friends and know that this is your community, your family and you are sharing something you love so much with them. I couldn't think of anything better.

For those few people out there who have never had the chance to experience the Christmas Spectacular, how would you describe it?

J:  I would start by saying that the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is truly a spectacular. It is a 2 hour live show that moves at a non stop pace. As soon as we hit the stage in the first number there is so much going on. It is a great show for the entire family with a great ensemble of dancers and of course the Radio City Rockettes. It is great that it is so close to the holiday season and can really help get you into the spirit of the season.

M: I would also like to add that the show features dazzling numbers. We have a 7 ½ minute Twelve Days of Christmas number where we show off all of our tap technique and of course, at the end of each piece we do our world famous eye-high kicks.

What do both of you enjoy most about this production? What do you look forward to the most when you go out on stage every night?

M: My favorite part of this particular show is one of the final numbers right before the living nativity called Dreams. As I said, I grew up dancing a lot of ballet and Dreams is our most balletic number with beautiful choreography and every time I go on stage to do that number I get so excited because it is just so gorgeous.

J: My favorite number in this show closes the first act and is called Christmas in New York. It is where Santa Claus takes the audience on a magical ride to experience New York at Christmastime which, of course, is filled with the hustle and bustle of the season. When The Rockettes come out we are in our classic red costumes and we come out with a bang. To me it is definitely one of those iconic Rockette numbers, with lots of kicking and it really shows off our precision dance techniques.

I have to ask about the costumes, they are always so beautiful and so amazing, and I am curious which are your favorites?

M: I would have to say the costumes from the Parade of the Wooden Soldiers. They were designed by Vincent Minnelli in the 30's and to be still performing in that same costume doing the exact same choreography that was performed in the 1930s at Radio City is just amazing. A little secret about those costumes: Since we have to act like wooden soldiers, the pants are starched frequently and are so stiff they keep us from breaking our knees or doing anything wrong and that also keeps us in character as wooden soldiers throughout the number.

J: Those costumes are actually starched so stiffly that when they are newly starched the pants can actually stand on their own!

Obviously, your story can be quite inspiring to young performers out there with a dream of being part of something like this, whether it be The Rockettes, or anything really.  What advice would you have for those young people who have those dreams?

J: I would say to make sure to take classes. It is really important as a professional dancer that you are very well rounded. As a Rockette you need to be able to do tap, jazz and ballet.  Those are definitely your core classes whether you want to be a Rockette, in Musical Theatre or wherever your interests might take you. It is very important to get as much training as you possibly can. As far as auditioning, if you really want to be a part of a particular company or a particular show, it is very important that you stick to your guns and keep trying whether you get cast on the first audition or if it takes you 5, 6, 7 or 8 auditions, just believe in yourself.

M: If you do have a dream of being a Rockette and you do all the work and go to classes, and you go to the audition but you get cut, look around and look at the girls they keep and try to learn from them. This way  you can be better prepared for the next time. When I first auditioned in NY I got cut right after the tap. But I knew I definitely had to work on my tap technique and when I went back I had gotten a lot better at my tapping and I was kept all the way through and made it. So they definitely reward persistence.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular returns to Atlanta and the Fabulous Fox Theatre for 35 dazzling performances November 19 - December 6. Individual tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000, visiting the Fox Theatre Box Office, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Groups of 15 or more will receive a 10% discount and can be reserved by contacting the Fox Theatre at (404) 881-2000. Single ticket prices range from $25.50 to $65.50.

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